You're fired! Fernandes wields the axe... in Malaysian version of The Apprentice

Tony Fernandes will be wielding his axe in the boardroom after being appointed to the hot seat of the Malaysian version of the BBC's hit show, The Apprentice.

The Queens Park Rangers chairman, who commands a billion pound fortune from the success of AirAsia, will step into the shoes of Sir Alan Sugar for the show.

Whether he will choose to fire some of QPR's failing stars after their relegation from the Premier League remains to be seen.

Hot seat: QPR chairman Tony Fernandes will play the part of Alan Sugar in a Malaysian series of The Apprentice

Fortune: Fernandes has a net worth of more than a billion pound, mostly due to the success of AirAsia

Fernandes, speaking in an exclusive interview with Sportsmail last week, admitted that he had made several bad signings this season, as his efforts to try and turn the west London side into Premier League giants turned to disaster.

‘I don’t think I will be exploited any more,' he said, before admitting he had spent around £50million on QPR so far in his tenure.

'I think I allowed myself to be exploited, but that’s my choice. Agents and players are trying to get the best contracts. I’m not going to be taken for a ride any more.

The Boss: Fernandes hopes to copy the success of Lord Sugar's (centre) The Apprentice. West Ham vice-chairman Karen Brady (right) is also a judge on the show

'I’ve seen all the parts that make football quite immoral. Maybe that’s a strong word but they would sell their grandmother to do something. But you learn. I think the airline business is as tough, and the music business. I’ve been pretty successful in both. Was I successful in year one in the airline business?

'No. Do you have to be a tough b****** in the airline business? Probably, yes. But I don’t necessarily think I have to be an a****** to be successful in football.

'I have to be smarter. Nobody can train you for relegation, or for a player who refuses to play because he is substituted. You learn.’

Exploited: Fernandes admitted he has made several bad signings this season

Fernandes will also be wary of any potential WAGs from his Apprentice cast, after it was revealed that one of this year's stars, Leah Totton, dated Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster for four years when on loan at Norwich as a youngster.

Miss Totton is set to make her debut on the show in the first episode of series nine on Tuesday. West Ham vice-chairman Karen Brady is also a judge on the show.

Brainy: Leah Totton, who will appear in series nine of The Apprentice, is a former WAG of Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster